“What Should Landlords Do When an Apartment Building Is Evacuated?”

Summary

"What Should Landlords Do When an Apartment Building Is Evacuated?"

Key Points

Why it matters: Building-wide power failure and evacuation can involve rent reduction, temporary accommodation, owners corporation responsibility and insurance coverage.

A landlord shared that an apartment building had a serious power issue and may require evacuation for up to 48 hours. Community members discussed whether the landlord would need to compensate the tenant and who should cover temporary accommodation. The key practical lesson is to contact the property manager, owners corporation or body corporate, insurer and relevant building manager as soon as possible. Landlords should keep the official emergency order, written notices, emails and all expense records. Coverage may differ between landlord insurance, contents insurance and the owners corporation’s building insurance.

Practical Takeaway

Use this note as a practical prompt before making decisions. Check the rules in your state, keep written records, and seek qualified advice where needed.